Magnetic control mechanism



Feb- 11 1941- G. c. DAvls 2,231,158

MAGNETIC CONTRC'L NECHANISM Feb. 11, 11941. G. c. DAVIS MAGNETIC CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1940 Zf'ky4.

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Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE MAGNETIC CONTROL MECHANISM George C. Davis, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to Davis Regulator Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 316,693

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-439) My invention relates to improvements in magin such position as to close the aperture I9, to prenetic control mechanisms, and has for one object vent the entrance of air which might break the to provide means responsive to variations in liqvacuum on the upper side of the diaphragm I5. uid level or pressure for controlling a valve or Any suitable means such as a weighted lever or other device, wherein the tank or receptacle may a piston would accomplish the same effect as the 5 be completely closed so far as the control mechaspring 22. 2l is a xed magnet associated with the nism is concerned and within which no stumng lever 2|. In the position shown for instance in boxes or the like will be used. Another object is Figure 1, the fixed magnet 24 and the xed magto provide a control wherein no mechanism exists net 9 are in alignment and attract one another to lo between the pressure or the liquidlevel actuating overcome the spring22,and hold the valve 20 open. 10

member and the control mechanism. This permits air under atmospheric pressure to My invention is illustrated more or less diaenter the housing 25 and break the vacuum on the grammatically in the accompanying drawings, upper side of the diaphragm I5 so that the valve wherein; I2 is held closed by the spring I6. Figure 1 is a section through a form of my de- Under the circumstances, with the parts in the 15 vice, position shown in Figure 1, no liquid or uid un- Figurc 2 is a section through a modified form. der pressure is admitted to the tank I. If, how- Figure 3 is a section through a further modified ever, the liquid level falls, the float 6 will descend form. carrying with it the magnet 9. After a predeter- Figure 4 is a section through a further modimined travel of the magnet 9, the magnetic field, 20 fied form, including magnets 8 and 24, Will become so at- Like parts are indicated by like characters in tenuated that the attraction between the magnets the various figures. 9 and 2l will no longer overcome the tension of I is a tank. 2 is a oat chamber connected the spring 22, the spring will then close the valve thereto by passage 3 below the minimum liquid 20 causing negative pressure to be built up on the 25 level and the passage 4 above the maximum liquid diaphragm I5, overcoming the spring I6, and level. The liquid level is shown at 5. 6 is a oat opening the valve |2 to permit the supply of adin the float chamber. Extending upwardly from ditional liquid to the tank. This will raise the liqthe float chamber in liquid-tight connection thereuid level until magnet 9 has been again brought with is a sleeve 1 which may be opened or closed into such alignment with magnet 24 that the mag- 30 at its upper end. 8 is a float stern, extending upnetic eld again exerts a sufiicient force to move wardly from the oat 6 within the sleeve 1. A perthe magnet 2l to the right, overcoming spring 22, marient magnet 9 iS mounted rigidly 0X1 the Stem opening the valve 20, and breaking the pressure 8,the stem is preferably polygonal in Cross SectiOn, on the diaphragm I5 to permit the spring I 6 to and is guided in the sleeve by guides I0 so posiagain close the valve M 35 tioned that they will not interfere with the verti- 1n the modied form of the device Shown in cal movement of the Stem, but adapted t0 hold the Figure 2, there is substituted for the float and oat stem 8 and the magnet 3 against rotation out of chamber, a pressure chamber 30, wherein spring alignment. I I is a uid supply pipe COltrOlled by diaphragm 3| supports the end of the stem 8. As

valve I2. |3 is a pipe leading from the valve l2 to long as the pressure is sufficient to maintain the o the tank I. I4 is a valve stem attached at one diaphragm 3| in the raised position, the magnets end to the valve, and at the other end to a dia- 9 and 2l cooperate to keep the valve 20 open. phragm l5. I6 is a spring tending normally t0 when the pressure falls, the magnet 9 is drawn hold the valve I4 in closed position so that as iluid down by the diaphragm 3| to attenuate the magunder pressure enters through the pipe Il it is netic field and permit the valve zo to close. 45 prevented from reaching the tank- The di- In the modified form shown in Figure 3, there Dhragm l5 iS mounted in 8 housing 25 which is is substituted for the vertical tube 1 a horizontal subjected to negative Pressure by means of a Pipe tube 40 in which is a magnet 4| and a confrom any Suitable Vacuum Dump not here necting rod l2. This connecting rod is pivoted ShOWn- I3 iS a bleeder pipe associated With the on a bell crank lever 43, and a link is pivoted 50 housing 25, terminating in a metering aperture to the other end of the beu crank lever and I9 which may be closed by the metering needle connects with the goat 45, valve 20. The needle valve 20 is mounted on a In this device the movement of the float, workpivoted lever 2|. The Spring 22, associated with ing through the bell crank lever, instead of movan adjustable screw 23, tends to hold the valve 20 ing the magnet 4| vertically across the magnetic 55 field as in Figure 1, moves the magnet 44 toward and from the magnet 24. Separation of the magnets results in sufficiently attenuating the magnetic field so the magnet 24 no longer overcomes the spring 22, and the valve 20 closes. When again the magnet 4i approaches the magnet 24, the magnetic field builds up until it is strong enough to overcome the spring 22.

'I'he action is ordinarily not variable or progressive. Either the effect of the magnetic eid is sufcient to open the valve, or it is not, but the response to the magnets may be varied by changing the tension in the spring, or if a lever and counterweight were to be used by changing the size or the position of the weight or both. The movement of one of the moving magnets, or magnetic elements, is such that after a predetermined movement the field becomes attenuated and the magnetic reaction is no longer effective to open the valve or throw the switch, or whatever mechanism is involved. Return of the movable magnetic element finally builds up the field and operation in the opposite direction therefrom.

In the form shown in Figure 4, the housing 5| may contain a float, a lever, or other suitable means for actuating the rod 52 which is guided by collars 53 in the tube 54. Adjustably mounted on the rod 52 are two spaced permanent magnets 55, 56. 'I'he tube 54 is preferably of non-magnetic material and has encircling it in adjustable tight frlctional engagement therewith collars 51, 58. On each of these collars is pvotally mounted a lever 59, 60. Each lever carries a permanent magnet 6|, 62 in opposition respectively to the magnets 55, 56. Lugs 63, 64 project respectively from collars 51, 58 to support the pivots on which the levers 59, are mounted, and each lug carries a needle valve nozzle 65, 66, each nozzle having an orifice adapted to be penetrated by needle valves 61, 68 on levers 59, 60. Springs 69 are socketed in the lugs 63, 64 and are provided with tension adjusting screws 10. Pipes 1|, 12, which may be more or less flexible, connect the nozzles 65, 66 with a T 13 on the end of the pipe 14, whose function is the same as the pipe I8.

By the arrangement shown in Figure 4, a. much wider range of adjustment is made possible. The relative positions of magnets 55 and 56 and collars 51 and 58 and the parts carried by them may be adjusted, the tension on each of the springs 69 may be adjusted and different nozzles and needle valves may be used so that responses different in time and in amount may be had to movement of the rod 52. For instance, nozzle or orifice may open first. Then as the rod 52 goes farther up, the next orifice may open. Other obvious combinations and adjustments may be Owing to`the relatively narrow range of effectiveness ,of a magnetic field and the relatively small range of-movement necessary to render the field operative or inoperative as the case may be, a very positive action results from a slight movement of the moving parts and a very sensitive reaction is thus obtained.

While I have shown two permanent magnets in opposition to one another, a single magnet and an armature might be used, or one or more electromagnets might be, under some circumstances, substituted for the permanent magnets.

While in the preferred form, the magnetic connection between the shaft and the valve control lever takes the form of an opposed paix' of magnets, one on the lever and the other on the shaft, the magnetic connection does not necessarily require two opposed magnets. An armature could be substituted for the other magnet of the pair, and, as a matter of fact, each magnet serves as an armature for the magnet opposed to it.

It will be understood, of course, that I have illustrated my device as applied to a bleeder pipe and bleeder valve to control a pressure attenuating valve, but other mechanisms could be used. I wish, therefore, that my drawings and specification be regarded as in a sense diagrammatical.

I claim:

1. In a control mechanism, a supporting rod, means for guiding and means for reciprocating it longitudinally, a plurality of magnets adjustably spaced along the rod, a plurality of supporting members normally fixed in position adjacent to, but out of contact with, the rod and ,the magnets, each one being separately adjustable longitudinally with respect to the rod, a lever on each supporting member, a magnet on each lever, movable toward and from a magnet on the rod, adjustable, yielding means resisting the angular movement of each lever, and a needle valve adapted to be moved responsive to each lever to control an orlce.

2. In combination, two control members, a lever adapted to actuate each of them, a, magnet carried by each lever, adjustable yielding means tending to permit rotation of each lever, a longitudinally movable member, two magnets carried thereby, one in opposition to each of the lever-mounted magnets, -each and every one of the magnets being separately longitudinally adjustable along the line of movement of the movable member.

3. A control mechanism including a non-magnetic guide tube, a shaft guided for reciprocation therein, a plurality of magnets carried by the shaft, adjustable in position therealong and enclosed within the tube, a plurality of collars frictionally engaging the tube and adjustable therealong, a lever pivoted on each collar, a magnet on each lever in opposition to one of the magnets on the shaft, adjustable yielding means adapted to resist the angular movement of each lever in response to the cooperation of the lever-supported magnet and its opposed shaftsupported magnet.

4. In combination, a non-magnetic tube, a sleeve encircling the tube, means for locking it adjustably in position therealong, a lever pivoted on the sleeve, a magnetic member on the lever, yielding means tending to rotate the lever to displace the magnetic memberaway from the outer periphery of the tube. a magnetic member enclosed within the tube, means for displacing it longitudinally therealong to bring the two magnetic members into cooperation and cause the magnetic field between them to overcome the yielding means and draw the two magnetic members together, a control element actuated in response to the rotation of the lever.

GEORGE C. DAVIS. 

